Translator: 🍓SassyStrawberry | http://www.sassystrawberry.com
Project: 🐟 Jinyiwei (锦衣卫) | Author: Fei Tian Ye Xiang (非天夜翔) | Rating: Mature
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Arc 2: The Tortoiseshell Ring
Chapter 14 一剑西来 A Single Sword from the West
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Tuoba Feng didn’t explain his current situation, merely speaking two sentences to Rong Qing, “How is Yunqi doing?”
Rong Qing answered, “Very well.”
Tuoba Feng nodded slightly, and replied, “He’s doing well, I can rest assured then.”
Translator: 🍓SassyStrawberry | http://www.sassystrawberry.com
It was evening, and the sky was already completely dark. Countless lamp lights illuminated Nanjing city, and white lanterns hung in front of the civilian homes.
Yunqi squatted over the well. In the deathly dim light, he accepted the Shangfang Baojian that Rong Qing passed to him, and casually swatted to death a fly that had parked itself on the railings by the well.
“What did Jiefu say?” Read this on the original site.
Rong Qing answered, “He said it requires further thought.”
Yunqi was displeased, as he declared, “Let him in, and I’ll guarantee his safety. What else is there to consider? How many people of the Imperial Court are keeping an eye on him – just leave the army outside the city and enter the city alone for the bereavement – doesn’t he have the courage to do so?”
Rong Qing’s brows furrowed deeply, plainly rather distracted. After contemplating the matter for a while, he expressed, “Yun-ge’er, you went too far in this matter.”
Yunqi raised his head from his crouching position and assessed Rong Qing’s expression. He tested the waters by asking, “You met Lao-Ba?”
Rong Qing’s facial expression swiftly altered, “Lao-Ba?! Didn’t Lao-Ba flee to Mobei [1] ?
Rong Qing stood in front of Yunqi, and grabbed his collar, nearly pushing Yunqi into the well. He spoke sternly, “You hid something from us brothers? ! Yun-ge’er! This is a great crime that warrants execution!”
Yunqi hurriedly squatted more stably, as he said, “No I didn’t! You’re sick with suspicion, Rong Qing. I was just asking!”
Yunqi ascribed, “I think that something is not quite right with you…”
Rong Qing studied Yunqi suspiciously for a moment, before stating, “I saw that fellow, Song Zhong [2], he was also carrying a Shangfang Baojian.”
Yunqi asked curiously, “Who’s Song Zhong [2]? And shouldn’t there be only one Shangfang Baojian?”
Rong Qing shook the lapels of his robe and sat down. He said in displeasure, “It’s a fake. It’s probably the Grand Tutor behind this.”
“The Emperor’s Imperial edict gave the Prince of Yan a thorough dressing-down, I’m quite certain that the manuscript was actually written by the Grand Tutor, in hopes that he’ll scram and return to Beiping.”
Yunqi’s face paled, “Isn’t this essentially forcing him to rebel? Who’s ever witnessed a case where a son has come to mourn his old father but was barred outside the city?”
Rong Qing pursed his lips, his face pale and bloodless as he stared fixedly at Yunqi, before speaking, “ His final words were: If the Prince of Yan has any sense of self-awareness of his own limitations, he will dispatch the armies back to Beiping, and remain outside the city on his own. On the day that Great Ancestor ‘s [3] coffin leaves the city, he can follow along behind with the status of a guilty minister [4] and observe filial piety.”
Yunqi leaped off the rails of the well and sprinted towards the Imperial Palace gates.
“Where are you going, Yun-ge’er?” Don’t read on aggregators
Yunqi didn’t reply, instead, he’d already run a great distance. Zhu Di took his leave.
Translator: 🍓SassyStrawberry | http://www.sassystrawberry.com
At a glance, under the white light, Zhu Di recognized Yunqi’s black Jinyiwei clothes at the capital archway. He offered his heartfelt praise, “ I realized that Wen-er [5] and Yunqi are truly a pair of brother and sister who are deeply attached to one another, no wonder even their names are related as if in a series. You tell me, why do you think Wen-er [5] can guess Yunqi’s thoughts this accurately…”
Tuoba Feng spoke coldly, “That’ll do.”
Zhu Di nodded in a great show of mock seriousness, before whistling once at Yunqi who was on the archway above.
Zhu Di said to Tuoba Feng, “I’m leaving now.” Zhu Di took his leave.
Zhu Di took one step forward and Tuoba Feng followed with one step. Zhu Di narrowed his eyes, and said, “You’re not allowed to go.”
Tuoba Feng insisted stubbornly, “I want to go.”
Zhu Di gritted his teeth and said, “You can’t go…”
Tuoba Feng didn’t respond, instead taking another step to follow him.
Zhu Di said, “Wolf cub [6], you can’t go. Do you want to cause Wang-ye’s death?”
Translator: 🍓SassyStrawberry | http://www.sassystrawberry.com
Yunqi frowned slightly as he stared at Zhu Di and the tall personal guard who nearly faded into the darkness, and immediately felt nervous.
Zhu Di had a brief discussion with the tall fellow for a moment, before unhurriedly continuing toward the city gates.
Tuoba Feng followed along the perimeter of the outer city walls as he crept to a more secluded position. He raised his head to gaze upwards, before unfastening a three-pronged steel hook that hung at his waist. He swung it around once in an arc, before catching it onto the top of the city walls with a “clank”, then scaling the wall like an evil creature [7].
Tuoba Feng stood firmly on the city walls, as he retrieved the steel hook without glancing at it. He drew his knife and stabbed backward, that moment, killing a patrolling city guard. After which, like a night owl, he quickly hurled himself towards the rooftops of the residential houses, and after several leaps, he landed on the ground and stuck himself beneath the chassis of the horse carriage with a “whoosh”. He held the embroidered spring knife in his mouth, as he clung on for dear life.
The horse carriage drove slowly towards the Imperial Palace.
Tuoba Feng quietly listened to the conversation in the interior of the carriage.
“Aiya, Xiao-jiu-zi, be more gentle…” Zhu Di grinned as he spoke.
Yunqi loosened his grip on Zhu Di’s wrist, and asked, “Who was the man following you just now? Was it Lao-Ba?”
Zhu Di replied in a serious and proper manner, “I’ve never known any Lao-Ba.”
Tuoba Feng frowned slightly. asda dwadwawegvwaebh
Yunqi asked, “How’s Lao-Ba doing?”
Zhu Di considered the question for a moment, then lifted the car curtains as he glanced outside, before he said, “ Why does it appear as if Jinling is celebrating the Ghost Festival…truth be told, not too well.”
Yunqi replied with satisfaction, “To know that he isn’t doing well, I can rest assured.”
Tuoba Feng: “…”
Yunqi asked again, “Why’d you only come at this time?”
Zhu Di replied in a leisurely manner, “Little children shouldn’t concern themselves with the matters of adults.”
Yunqi sniffed contemptuously. The two of them entered from the back entrance of the Imperial Palace. Zhu Di leaped out of the carriage. Yunqi returned to the great courtyard and banned Zhu Di from entering. He stated, “Go meet the Crown Prince on your own.”
Zhu Di said, “Xiao-jiu-zi, you must keep your word.”
Yunqi replied impatiently, “I know. Now I’ll arrange to be on duty. Just follow me.”
Translator: 🍓SassyStrawberry | http://www.sassystrawberry.com
At that moment, Zhu Yunwen was in the Imperial Study, looking at his books uneasily. He suddenly heard a eunuch outside the hall announce, “The Prince of Yan is outside the Meridian Gate requesting an audience.”
Zhu Yunwen immediately looked up, since when had Zhu Di entered the city?!
Zhu Yunwen’s voice trembled as he said, “Hurry, go invite the Grand Tutor over!”
Only to hear the drum outside the Imperial Study sound once as the Jinyiwei changed shifts. Yunqi entered the hall. The Jinyiwei who’d been on duty departed, and there were only Yunqi and Zhu Yunwen left in the study.
Yunqi stood firmly in front of the desk and noticed Zhu Yunwen’s assessing look. He asked with mild surprise, “What’s happened?”
Zhu Yunwen shook his head and chewed on his lip, muttering to himself without answering. After a moment, he called the eunuch outside the door, and instructed, “Summon the Prince of Yan to enter the palace to meet with the Emperor.”
Yunqi inhaled sharply, “Jie…the Prince of Yan has arrived?”
Zhu Yunwen nodded, and smiled, “If he’s unreasonable and makes a scene, you must side with me.”
Yunqi smiled as he answered, “None of that, he’s still your own uncle, why would he be unreasonable and make a scene.”
Zhu Yunwen hesitated, appearing to want to say something, but ultimately couldn’t initiate that conversation. After a short while, Huang Zicheng was the first to arrive, so Yunqi smiled and put the matter aside.
Zhu Di appeared dusty and travel-worn as he entered the hall. Yunqi knew at a glance, that he’d unmistakably rolled a few times on the ground of the Imperial Gardens before coming over.
Zhu Di was quite the smart ruffian, he immediately flipped the front part of his robe, and dropped to his knees with a “thump” – his words filled with genuine concern and affection as he declared, “This uncle-subject [8] greets the Crown Prince!”
“…” originaltranslation bySassyStrawberryDOTcom
Neither Huang Zicheng nor Zhu Yunwen knew how to deal with him.
Zhu Yunwen’s expression was so miserable that one couldn’t bear looking at it. Just as Huang Zicheng was about to start denouncing Zhu Di, Zhu Yunwen said, “It’s fine. Give him a seat.”
Huang Zicheng had to swallow his words back.
Zhu Di gave a drawn-out sigh as he carefully sat down with his butt plastered against the sides of the chair. He said mournfully, “Yunwen, it’s not been easy for you on your own.”
Zhu Yunwen looked at Zhu Du for a moment, and spoke gently, “ That’s right. I also have today.”
After these words were spoken, the people gathered in the hall found it both uncomfortable and amusing. In the past, prior to Zhu Yuanzhang establishing his heir, Zhu Di had been deliberately provocative and unreasonable when he’d slapped Zhu Yunwen’s shoulder, and said noisily and boisterously, “Unexpectedly, you’d have today.” His words and deeds had been extremely rude, and later he’d been severely reprimanded by Zhu Yuanzhang.
Zhu Di wiped at his face and replied shamefacedly, “Those matters of the past, how about letting them go.”
Zhu Yunwen smiled as he answered, “Since 4th Uncle has spoken, then I’ve no choice but to let it go. However, what are 4th Uncle’s intentions in bringing so many troops here? And tonight, who was it that brought 4th Uncle into the city?”
Huang Zicheng’s expression was grim as he glanced at Yunqi. But Yunqi gently closed his eyes as his ears twitched almost imperceptibly.
At that instant, he’d heard a ‘click’ noise from somewhere outside the house eaves.
The Imperial Bodyguards shouted anxiously, “Arrest the assassin! He’s heading towards the Imperial Study!”
A longsword silently and without a trace burst through the windows into the Imperial Study, passing Huang Zicheng and Zhu Di’s terrified gazes as it flew towards Zhu Yunwen who was seated on the dragon chair!
Zhu Yunwen uttered a loud cry. At that instant, Yunqi grasped hold of the Crown Prince’s collar and ruthlessly yanked Zhu Yunwen behind him. The sharp sword glanced past Zhu Yunwen’s profile before embedding itself with a “thud” into the back of the chair, still vibrating.
Yunqi abruptly leaped onto the desk! Yunqi asked, “How’s Lao-Ba doing?” a0w9rguva0n8r0w8vur0w
As his foot stepped onto the desk with a bang, the inkstone toppled off the table and clattered to the floor noisily. Yunqi lunged towards the opposite wall as if he were a sparrowhawk in flight!
Huang Zicheng was taken unawares, and exclaimed, “What does the Commander intend to do!”
Zhu Yunwen raised a hand, halting Huang Zicheng’s tirade. Someone outside the eaves flipped onto the rooftop. Zhu Di raised his head to look towards the roof, as he inhaled deeply, and cursed inaudibly.
At that instant, Yunqi discovered something hanging on the opposite wall; It was a longbow that Zhu Yuanzhang had used when he had established the country and brought peace and stability to the world. It was the famed weapon “Divine Arm [9]” that he’d collected from Chen Youliang. He then took out a quiver with four steel arrows fletched with chicken feathers, and sandwiched them between his fingers, as he exerted his core strength, letting out a sudden loud shout as he drew the sixty-stone [10] dragon-stringed iron bow.
“There’s – an – Assassin!” Yunqi’s yell exploded in the air. The first arrow flew toward the roof of the hall like a meteor, sending the tiles flying in all directions. The events happened faster than words could describe, the sound of someone stepping and slipping on the roof sounded, which was immediately followed by the sounds of someone running.
In the time taken for a few breaths, the incident already alerted countless eunuchs and bodyguards; Dozens of people charged into the hall, surrounding Zhu Yunwen. Zhu Yunwen couldn’t restrain himself from crying out, “Yun-ge’er, be careful!”
Yunqi smiled, and responded, “As your Imperial Majesty commands [11]!”Yunqi asked, “How’s Lao-Ba doing?”
Yunqi bounded out of the window, the longbow in his hands as he climbed the eaves, and again did a somersault as he vaulted onto the roof in hot pursuit.
Translator: 🍓SassyStrawberry | http://www.sassystrawberry.com
A full moon hung high in the sky, reflecting a luminous silver glow over the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
At the summit of the Imperial Palace, two figures dressed in black ran like the wind.
Finally, one man’s Jinyiwei clothing fluttered in the wind as he stood upright on the end of the carved dragon cornices.
The other man removed his bamboo hat and flung it outwards into the air. Borne by the wind, the bamboo hat whirled outwards in the direction of the Meridian Gate.
Yunqi carried the longbow at his back and nocked the sharp arrow on the string as he stood firmly on the head of the dragon carving.
Tuoba Feng crouched down, appearing like a bloodthirsty hunting leopard in the night. One of his hands rested on the ground, as he raised his head.
“It’s me.” Tuoba Feng spoke quietly. Yunqi asked, “How’s Lao-Ba doing?”
Yunqi didn’t reply. After an interval of a few years, Tuoba Feng’s appearance had become thinner, and his gaze bore an indescribable sense of fatigue and despair.
Zhu Di hadn’t lied, he truly wasn’t doing well.
“Who are you?” Yunqi mocked, “Get lost, otherwise, I’ll kill you.”
The distant sounds of the Imperial Bodyguards’ footsteps could be heard, and the torches that they carried appeared to form long dragons that wound from outside the Imperial Study all the way to the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Tuoba Feng slowly stood, and said, “It’s Shi-ge, Shi-ge came to see you.”
Yunqi turned his head around impatiently to avoid Tuoba Feng’s gaze, as he bit out, “Leave quickly! Why’d you run to the Imperial study to kill the Emperor! Have you gone insane! Beware of implicating Jiefu!”
Tuoba Feng turned a deaf ear towards the approaching clamor from the guards nearing the Hall of Supreme Harmony, he moved forward one step, and said, “Yunqi, come here.”
Yunqi closed both eyes, and shouted, “Someone’s coming! ! Hurry up at leave!” He suddenly loosed his grip on the bowstring!
Tuoba Feng’s pupils suddenly contracted, as he subconsciously reached for the knife at his waist!
As the arrow left the string, Tuoba Feng’s right hand pressed down on the knife scabbard, his left hand pulling out a few cun of the embroidered spring knife. The “云” character carved on the knife handle was like a flame, searing his hand with a touch.
The sharp arrow spun as it flew toward Tuoba Feng.
Tuoba Feng’s pupils reflected the icy glare of the arrowhead, and he abruptly slammed the half-drawn embroidered spring knife back into its sheath with a clang!
The arrow buried itself in Tuoba Feng’s shoulder.
Yunqi suddenly opened his eyes and saw Tuoba Feng covering his right shoulder, as he withdrew a step.
Tuoba Feng tumbled backward from the top of the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Yunqi uttered a loud cry as he hastily pounced forward. He glimpsed a figure yank out the arrowhead, and cast it to one side as he leaned against the wall and convulsed, it was apparent that pulling out the arrow had been unbearably painful.
Yunqi’s heart leaped to his throat. “Get lost, otherwise, I’ll kill you.”
“Shi-ge!” Yunqi cried out hoarsely. Readthisonsassystrawberryd0tc0m
Tuoba Feng heard him and raised his head to look back at him, meeting Yunqi’s gaze. At that instant, it appeared as if he’d understood something. Yunqi pointed towards the Imperial City’s main gate. Tuoba Feng gasped for a moment and began to flee, leaving a bloody trail behind him.
Yunqi nocked the final two arrows on the string and shot them into the distance. With the force of the wind, they struck two white lanterns on the Meridian Gate with popping sounds. After the second arrow extinguished the lantern, it propelled the lantern for almost ten zhang [12] before pinning an anxious and frightened guard’s hand to the palace wall!
Agonized cries were heard. Yunqi knew that Tuoba Feng had already escaped the Imperial Palace and he let out a weary sigh of relief.
However, at the next moment, Yunqi turned around nervously. Dozens of hunting dogs bayed furiously as they sprang out from a side hall. The Imperial Guards [13] drove their dogs toward the bloodstains and had the dogs sniff at them. The guards raised their heads to gaze distrustfully at Yunqi, before following the hunting dogs to run out of the palace.
Yunqi exchanged glances with the gloomy Zhu Di. He was at the end of his rope and had no choice but to leap down.
Yunqi hissed, “Those are the Meridian Gate Guards, they aren’t under my jurisdiction!”
Zhu Di hastily made an expression indicating for him not to speak, as Huang Zicheng hurriedly scooted over behind them.
Yunqi had no alternative but to turn around and sprint in the direction that Tuoba Feng had escaped in.
Translator: 🍓SassyStrawberry | http://www.sassystrawberry.com
Tuoba Feng held his shoulder as blood gushed forth like a fountain, as he left a strange trail behind him in the tranquil moonlit night. His face was deathly pale due to the excessive blood loss, and he couldn’t differentiate between directions, only able to dash about in wild confusion through the streets and lanes like a hapless fly. His chaotic flight along the houses startled many of the dogs sleeping within the courtyards, as their barking started up in unison.
He no longer knew how many houses and courtyard walls he’d surmounted, nor could he count how many streets he’d fled down. Finally, he’d exhausted all his strength and collapsed in one residence’s rear flower garden.
That residence’s dog began to bark madly, but a gentle female voice said, “Why are you barking, be quieter.” “Get lost, otherwise, I’ll kill you.”
The dog ceased its barking, as it sidled up to Tuoba Feng’s body and sniffed at him, before backing away in fear.
Su Wanrong asked in a carefree manner, “It’s in the middle of the night, did Lao-Jiang climb the wall again to come home?”
Su Wanrong was wrapped in a simple robe as she sat on the terrace with a wooden tea table before her. On the tea table were arranged some cups and utensils, and a sandalwood censer puffed away slowly on this late autumn night.
Not receiving a response from the person below, Madam Jiang frowned slightly as she looked around. Upon catching sight of that tall male figure, her beautiful flower-like features paled in fright. She hurriedly got up and went into the garden in her bare feet. When she turned the man over, she discovered that it was indeed the first disciple that they’d accepted – their most senior disciple [14], Tuoba Feng.
Translator: 🍓SassyStrawberry | http://www.sassystrawberry.com
Author’s Note:
The meat is in Ch 19……
Translator’s Note:
Author-dada, why are you abusing ML again!
Yikes! Shi-ge keeps getting into such dangerous situations. Yunqi keeps getting stuck in the middle. There are some serious trouble makers in this story that may get our heroes killed.
Thank you so much for these timely updates!
Yunqi reminds me of Zhang Wuji from Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre, the Jin Yong novel that charts the fictional rise of the Ming Sect before the Ming Dynasty is formed; he’s stuck in the middle between his monarch and his childhood friend and shige (忠义两难全).